text:
info scheme,
but most of the (enormous amount of) information
in this info-page is intended for people who basically know the language
and want to look up some detail they've forgotten. For those who
don't basically know the language, this will have to do.
The students for whom I originally wrote these notes had spent a year learning Pascal, and were now required to learn a very different language called Scheme. The natural tendency of such students was to write in Scheme with a strong "Pascal accent": they wrote the same way they would have written in Pascal, but changed the semicolons, commas, and parentheses to make it legal Scheme. As a result, even the students who got these Pascal-programs-in-Scheme to work correctly missed the opportunity to learn the different perspective Scheme brings to programming. My main concern, therefore, was to get students to think in a manner natural to the Scheme language.
The Web page, however, has taken on a life of its own, and is apparently being used as a reference by programming teachers at a number of other schools. (If you are such a teacher, feel free to link to this page, but I would prefer that you link, not copy it so that I can easily make corrections.) Accordingly, I've revised it somewhat to reflect its new, broader audience.
Using and programming in Scheme requires a very different way of thinking than does using and programming in Pascal, C, C++, or many other "procedural" languages. The most obvious difference is that Scheme is (traditionally) interactive. When working in most procedural languages, you write a program in a text editor, get out of the editor, compile the program, run the program, find some bugs, and go back to the editor to fix them. In Scheme, you type commands one at a time and you see the responses to them immediately; the programming process consists of typing particular commands that have the effect of defining new commands. You can put such definitions into a file with a text editor and then load it as a unit, and you can mix this way of doing things freely with the more usual command-response way. Indeed, one way to load a file is to type a command which has the effect of reading in a specified file just as though you were typing it.
I've used the word "command" in the above paragraph. In fact, a better
word would be "expression": Scheme expressions are primarily thought of
as having a value (for example, the expression
(+ 3 5)
has the value
8), and only secondarily as doing
something. This is another big difference between Scheme and the
procedural languages you've seen before: in Pascal, each statement
does something -- it assigns a variable, or reads a number, or
calls a procedure -- whereas in Scheme, each expression
(+ 3 5)
has a value, but only a few special ones (like
(define x 5))
do anything as a side effect. On the other hand, it means that Scheme
has a strong resemblance to the language of algebra.
Many high school and university computer science programs now teach Scheme as a first language, and I've seriously considered this for our program. For a discussion of why this might be a good idea, see the article Mastering the AP CS Curriculum Without Using C++ from the TeachScheme! Project.
for-loop in C or Pascal.
cond" and "
do" statements. In rare instances
a Scheme programmer may use a more specialized construct such as
case" or a powerful one like
(which has no analogue in C or Pascal),
but "
cond" alone probably constitutes the vast majority of
Scheme control constructs in practice.
Furthermore, where a C programmer is stuck with the twelve constructs
above, a Scheme programmer can easily define new control constructs (see
355/113, or
y, or
+, or
"Bloch" or
"Software II"; and
(+ 3 (* 4 x)),
("Trina" "Ian" "Sherri" "Keith" "Peg"),
(blue red green (light grey)).
Numbers, symbols, and strings are collectively referred to as atoms, so called because they cannot be broken down into smaller meaningful pieces. Lists, on the other hand, are the most common kind of complex expressions, i.e. expressions made up of smaller pieces which would have meaning by themselves. One of Scheme's strong points is the ease with which it allows the programmer to manipulate lists. Lists are typed in, and printed out, in a standard form: a pair of parentheses around a sequence of list elements, each separated by at least one space from the previous and next list elements.
Practically, a symbol looks like a variable name: it
consists of a sequence of one or more letters, numbers, and punctuation
marks (most often hyphens and underscores) without intervening space.
Philosophically, a symbol is a data object which has no inherent meaning
(as opposed to a number, which has various built-in behaviours with
respect to arithmetic). Symbols can be used as
the names of variables, or they can be used as data in their own right.
For example, if you were keeping track of birds you had seen, you might
(define birdlist '(crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk))
This defines a new symbol named "
birdlist" as a variable,
whose value is a list containing the symbols named "
raven", etc.
These symbols are all distinct from one another, but they have no
built-in properties; indeed, the only meaning ascribed to any of them is
birdlist is a variable name whose current value is
such-and-such a list. (I'll explain the apostrophe before the list of
bird names in a moment.)
These typeless variables present both advantages and disadvantages for the programmer. The obvious advantage is the saving of time figuring out and typing declaration statements. A less obvious advantage is the ability to write a function that works equally well on a variety of different types of data. (For example, in Pascal it is impossible to write a general "matrix multiplication" function that works for all sizes of matrices; if you want to work with 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, and 10x10 matrices, you need to write four versions of the same function. In Scheme, you could easily write a single matrix-multiplication function that looked at its arguments to see what size they were.) On the other hand, Scheme will silently allow you to assign a floating-point number to a variable that you thought contained a list of character-strings, thus creating a potentially hard-to-find bug, while C or Pascal would give you a compiler error message before you had a chance to even run the buggy program.
Scheme numbers, on the other hand, more closely approximate a mathematician's notion of "number". A Scheme integer is essentially unlimited in range (until you use up all the memory in your computer representing it). A Scheme fraction like 1/3 is stored exactly as a ratio of two (essentially unlimited) integers, so 1/3+1/3+1/3 is 1, as an ordinary equality test will tell you. The language also handles IEEE-standard floating-point numbers, of course, labelling them as "inexact" to distinguish them from exact integers and fractions. Scheme also supports complexes and interval arithmetic, either of which would require defining a new compound data structure in a language like C or Pascal.
Each kind of expression is evaluated in a different way:
the printed result is
x has the value
(blue red), and you type
x, the printed result is
(blue red).
the printed result is
define had a chance to do its job.
For example, let's trace what happens when you type in
(+ y 4)
y is a variable currently holding the value 6.
(6 4), producing as result the number 10.
For another example, let's trace what happens when you type in
(define z (+ y 4))
y is still a variable holding the value 6.
z and
(+ y 4), but merely passes
them on to the built-in function.
(+ y 4)), which is
evaluated as in the previous example to yield the number 10.
bluejay, and simply returns
the symbol
bluejay, which is
then printed:
Similarly, if you type
'(+ 3 4)
the evaluator does not add 3 and 4 and return 7, but rather returns the three-element list it was given:
(+ 3 4)
quote, which simply takes an argument,
doesn't evaluate it, and returns it unaltered. Thus when you type
(quote bluejay).
The evaluator then treats
quote as a special form,
doesn't evaluate the argument
bluejay, and returns
the symbol
Similarly, if you type
'(crow raven bluejay)
(quote (crow raven bluejay))
(crow raven bluejay)
(list 4 5 6 7) ;Value: (4 5 6 7)Note that the
list function takes as many arguments as you
choose to give it, and constructs a list with that many elements.
(list 5 y birdlist '(a b c)) ;Value: (5 6 (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (a b c))In this example, some of the elements in the list were variables, and they were replaced by their values.
list is not a
special form: it evaluates its arguments in a perfectly ordinary way
before putting them together into a list. Note also that a list can be
an element of another list.
To get individual elements from a list, you can use the built-in functions
(first birdlist) ;Value: crow (second birdlist) ;Value: raven (third birdlist) ;Value: pigeonOnly the first few such functions are defined, and in practice most Scheme programmers only use
second, and perhaps
third. The reason is that a list is not an array, and
should not be used for the same purposes as an array: if you really want
to get at the i-th element of a list, you're better off with a
real array. However, lists make it easy to work with "the rest of" a
list: Scheme has a built-in function
rest that gives you "all but the first element".
(A few old-fashioned Scheme programmers use the older names "car" and "cdr" instead of "first" and "rest". The names "car" and "cdr" are something of an embarrassment: they refer to two machine instructions on a particular model of IBM computer popular in the late 1950's, standing for "contents of the address register" and "contents of the data register". Don't worry about them, but if you hear somebody talking about them, you know it's a Lisp/Scheme old-timer.)
(rest birdlist) ;Value: (raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (first birdlist) ;Value: crow (first (rest birdlist)) ;Value: raven (second birdlist) ;Value: raven (first (rest (rest birdlist))) ;Value: pigeon (third birdlist) ;Value: pigeon (first (rest (rest (rest birdlist)))) ;Value: starlingNote that the names "second", "third", etc. are defined only for convenience: as long as you have "first" and "rest", you can get at any list element you wish.
So "first", "rest", and their relatives
allow you to take a list apart. Scheme also provides functions to put a
list together. The simplest one is
cons, which takes two
arguments (an object and a list) and constructs a new list with the
object inserted in front of the list:
(cons 'swan birdlist) ;Value: (swan crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (cons 4 '(5 6 7)) ;Value: (4 5 6 7Note that
cons does not change any of its arguments
(indeed, most Scheme functions don't):
birdlist ;Value: (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (cons 'swan birdlist) ;Value: (swan crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) birdlist ;Value: (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk)The simplest possible list is called "the empty list" or "the null list".
() ;Value: () '() ;Value: () (cons 'lonely ()) ;Value: (lonely) (cons 'a (cons 'b ())) ;Value: (a b)Note that
cons-ing something with the empty list
() produces, as you would expect, a list starting with the
"something", but not containing any other elements. A list with one
element is very different from that element itself!
'lonely ;Value: lonely (list 'lonely) ;Value: (lonely) (cons 'lonely '()) ;Value: (lonely) (cons birdlist birdlist) ;Value: ((crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk)The last example illustrates that
cons does not care
whether its first argument is itself a list;
cons treats it as
a single object to be inserted into another list. If you want to
combine two or more lists, you can use the
(append birdlist birdlist) ;Value: (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) birdlist ;Value: (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk)Note that
append, too, does not change its arguments.
printf and
scanf, and you can also define your own C functions, which are
then treated the same way as C library functions. In the same way,
although Scheme provides many built-in functions like
etc., you can equally well define your own functions.
Here's a simple example:
(define (add1 x) (+ x 1))) ;Value: add1This defines a new function named "add1" which takes one parameter, "x", and returns the value of the expression "(+ x 1)". After typing this into a Scheme interpreter, we can use "add1" freely, e.g.
(add1 4) ;Value: 5 (define y 6) ;Value: y (add1 y) ;Value: 7and even use it in other functions that you define:
(define (add3 x) (add1 (add1 (add1 x)))) ;Value: add3 (add3 y) ;Value: 9 y ;Value: 6For another example, suppose we want to build a list with three copies of something:
(define (threecopies x) (list x x x)) ;Value: threecopies (threecopies 4) ;Value: (4 4 4) (threecopies birdlist) ;Value: ((crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk))
((lambda (x) (+ x 1)) 6) ;Value: 7This is of course an unrealistic example, since any reasonable Scheme programmer would say
(+ 1 6)instead. But the function "threecopies" above provides a more realistic example. If you didn't plan to use the operation "make a list with three copies of x" in the future, you might skip defining "threecopies" and just say
((lambda (x) (list x x x)) birdlist) ;Value: ((crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk) (crow raven pigeon starling sparrow hawk))or
((lambda (x) (list x x x)) '(a b c d e f g)) ;Value: ((a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g))In this case, using an unnamed function would be shorter and less error-prone than writing
(list '(a b c d e f g) '(a b c d e f g) '(a b c d e f g))
So what is this "lambda" thing, anyway? "lambda" is another special
form used for building functions. The first argument to "lambda" is an
example of how the function is to be called:
(func-name param1 param2 ...)
in parentheses, the function name and a list of its parameters.
The second argument is an expression which is the
body of the function. In fact, although we defined the "add1" function
above with the syntax
(define (add1 x) (+ x 1))some Scheme programmers prefer an alternate syntax:
(define add1 (lambda (x) (+ x 1)))This way of stating things is longer and less convenient, but makes clearer what's happening: we define a new symbol named "add1" and give it, as its value, a function which takes an argument which it calls "x" and returns x+1. Thus typing "
(add1 5)" is
exactly equivalent to typing "
((lambda (x) (+ x 1)) 5)", since
add1" has the function "
(lambda (x) (+ x 1))" as its
value. Similarly, the following two function calls are exactly
(threecopies '(a b c d e f g)) ;Value: ((a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g)) ((lambda (x) (list x x x)) '(a b c d e f g)) ;Value: ((a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g))
if" is a special form with three arguments.
It evaluates the first; if the first
evaluates to "
(Scheme's notation for "true"),
it evaluates and returns the second argument, and if not, it evaluates
and returns the third argument. For example,
x ;Value: 3 y ;Value: 6 (> y x) ;Value: #t (< y x) ;Value: #f (if (> y x) 'raven 'bluebird) ;Value: raven (if (< y x) 'raven 'bluebird) ;Value: bluebird
In C and Pascal, it's common to write a sequence of statements like "if... then... else if... then... else if... then... else...". The same can be done in Scheme, but the parentheses start nesting very deeply:
(if (< x y) 'x-less-than-y (if (= x y) 'x-equals-y (if (= x (+ y 1)) 'x-one-more-than-y 'x-at-least-two-more-than-y)))A more convenient, and incidentally more general, way to do this is with the "
cond" special form. "
cond" takes one or more
arguments, each of which is a list of expressions. It evaluates the
first expression in the first list: if it's non-null, it then evaluates
the rest of the expressions in the first list and returns the value of
the last one; if it's null, on the other hand, "
cond" goes on
to the second list and does the same thing: evaluate the first
expression, see whether it's null, and so on.
In other words,
(cond (#t expr1b) (expr2a expr2b) ... (exprna exprnb))is equivalent to
expr1b, while
(cond (#f expr1b) (expr2a expr2b) ... (exprna exprnb))is equivalent to
(cond (expr2a expr2b) ... (exprna exprnb))
So the following "
form has the same effect as the above three nested "
(cond ((< x y) 'x-less-than-y) ((= x y) 'x-equals-y) ((= x (+ y 1)) 'x-one-more-than-y) (#t 'x-at-least-two-more-than-y))By the way, you can use the word "else" in place of exprna, producing the following slightly more readable equivalent of the above:
(cond ((< x y) 'x-less-than-y) ((= x y) 'x-equals-y) ((= x (+ y 1)) 'x-one-more-than-y) (else 'x-at-least-two-more-than-y))
Recursion, in a programming language, simply means a function calling
itself. Of course, if the function
f(x) is computed by calling
f(x) again, the computer will go into an infinite loop, asking
the same question over and over again, so it's important that each
recursive call be on a simpler version of the same question.
Perhaps the most well-known example is the factorial function,
(define (factorial n) (if (<= n 0) 1 (* n (factorial (- n 1)))))That is, the factorial of
n is 1 if
n <= 0, and
otherwise it can be computed by first computing the factorial of
n-1 and multiplying the result by
n. Thus
could be found easily if only we knew the answer to a simpler question,
the factorial of
n-1. This is the most common form of
recursive functions, both in Scheme and in procedural languages like C and
Recursive functions are generally used when the form of data the function uses is itself self-referential, and can be thought of as adding successive layers of complexity to a simple "base case". For example, the most common base case for working with natural numbers is 0; the most common base case for working with lists is the empty list.
I usually use the following step-by-step approach to writing recursive functions.
cond with exactly as many clauses as the
total number of base cases and recurrences.
I recommend writing the following functions as exercises in recursive programming. These are not homework assignments, to be turned in for a grade, but I might put a recursion problem on your next exam.
#t if x is an element of the list,
#f otherwise
n-th element of the list,
n >= 1
list that aren't
eql? to the specified element
note that this is not necessarily the same as (length list),
because a list might contain another list of atoms as one of its
elements. For example, (length '(a (b c) d)) = 3, but
(count-atoms '(a (b c) d)) = 4.
list1 or
list2, without
repeats (you may assume that
list1 and
themselves don't contain any repeats). I suggest using
eql? for comparing two objects
list1 and
without repeats (see above).
One implication of this is that in Scheme, you're not limited to the control constructs the language designer thought would be useful; you can make up your own. In Pascal, for example, the predefined control constructs are
This property is necessary if the language is to be cleanly defined or
written in itself, which is nice because you only have to learn one
language to understand what's going on. For example, perhaps the most
important function in Scheme is eval, which
takes a Scheme object representing an expression, evaluates the
expression, and returns the result. (The Scheme version of
eval takes a second "environment" parameter; we'll
discuss this later.) So one could write a Scheme interpreter
(at least, the read-eval-print loop) in a few lines of Scheme:
(define scheme (lambda () (print (eval (read) (the-environment))) (scheme)))
Suppose, for another example, you were trying to program a process with twenty steps, each depending on the previous ones, and you didn't know until run-time how many of them to perform. In Pascal:
case n of 1: step1; 2: begin step1; step2; end; 3: begin step1; step2; step3; end; ... 20: begin step1; step2; ... step20; end; end;or perhaps
if (n >= 1) then begin step1; if (n >= 2) then begin step2; if (n >= 3) then begin ... end; end; end;or maybe even
for i := 1 to n do case i of 1: step1; 2: step2; ... 20: step20; end;All of these methods are inelegant, repetitive, and prone to typographical errors, and none of them really makes clear that what's going on is "doing the first n steps of a sequence of steps". But worse, what if "doing the first n steps" turned out to be a common situation in your program? You'd need to write all this code over again each time it happened, and knowing that you'd gotten one copy of it right would give you no assurance that you had typed the next copy correctly.
In Scheme, you could abstract the idea of "doing the first n steps" into a function, do-first-n, write, test, and debug it once, and use it every time you needed to do the first n steps of something. An added advantage is that the steps themselves, as well as n, can be decided at run-time, and simply passed in to do-first-n.
(define do-first-n (lambda (n steplist) (cond ((null? steplist) ()) ((= n 0) ()) (#t (eval (car steplist) (the-environment)) (do-first-n (- n 1) (cdr steplist))))))Of course, "do-first-n" is not a terribly common control construct in most programs. But there are many other "cliches" of programming that have to be written out in full every time they're used in a procedural language, but can be abstracted in Scheme. Here are some examples. Each of these happens to have a predefined Scheme function that does it for you, but you could have written any one of them yourself in a few lines, like the above recursive definition of do-first-n:
If we're going to be passing code all over the place as function arguments, how do we specify it? Well, most code comes in the form of defined functions, so we can just pass the function name, which Scheme treats as a variable whose value is the function itself:
(define add3 (lambda (x) (+ x 3))) ADD3 (map add3 '(3 5 7 2 9 -5)) (6 8 10 5 12 -2)But in a procedural language, you're not restricted to passing arguments that happen to live in variables already; you can pass literals (like 3 or "hello there") too. In the same way, you can discuss code in a literal form, without bothering to define a new function. Since add3 was defined above as essentially a variable whose value was the function
(lambda (x) (+ x 3)), why not just pass
the function itself?
(map (lambda (x) (+ x 3)) '(3 5 7 2 9 -5)) (6 8 10 5 12 -2)In fact, perhaps a majority of the uses of these "cliche" functions are with lambda-expressions, rather than named functions, as arguments.
cond" and recursion. But sometimes you really want a
for-loop or a
while-loop or a
statement (
case for Pascal fans).
First, let me describe something that doesn't sound like a flow-of-control structure; it's really just a way of declaring local variables. Here's an example:
(let ((x 3) (y 6) (z 'bluebird)) (list x y z z y)) ;Value: (3 6 bluebird bluebird 6) (let ((x '(a b c d e f g))) (list x x x)) ;Value: ((a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g) (a b c d e f g)) (let ((n 5000)) (* n n n n) ;Value: 625000000000000 n ;Unbound variable: n"
let" expects its first argument to be a list of lists: each
smaller list starts with a variable name, optionally followed by a value
to give that variable. "
let" declares all the variables
temporarily, gives them the corresponding values (if any), evaluates the
remaining arguments, returns the last one, and discards the variables it
just declared.
Note that "
let" is NOT an assignment statement!
It is not intended to change the value of an existing variable, but
rather to declare a new one; if the new one has the same name as an
existing variable, the old variable (with its old value) will still exist
after the "
let" is over.
A good way to think about this is to read the first example above
as "let x be 3, y be 6, and z be bluebird for the moment.
Now evaluate the expression
(list x y z z y)'. OK, you can forget about x, y, and z now."
There are several variants on "
let", with names like
let*", "
letrec", "
fluid-let", and "named
let", but I don't want to go into the differences now; you can
read about them in the documentation.
The "
do" special form resembles "
let" -- it declares
and initializes some local variables, then evaluates some expressions -- but
it does all this repeatedly until a specified condition is met.
do" expects its first argument to be a list of lists,
each consisting of a variable name, an optional initial value, and an
optional "update expression". The second argument to "
should be a list of expressions analogous to those in "
if the first one evaluates to non-null, it evaluates the rest and
returns the last one, but otherwise, "
do" goes on to evaluate
its third, fourth, fifth, etc. arguments, then replaces each
local variable with the value of its "update expression" and repeats the
whole process. For example:
(do ((x 1 (+ x 1)) (sum 0 (+ sum x))) ((> x 10) sum) (display x) (display " ")) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ;Value: 55This is equivalent to the Scheme code
(do-it 1 0) where
do-it" is defined by
(define (do-it x sum) (cond ((> x 10) sum) (else (display x) (display " ") (do-it (+ x 1) (+ sum x)))))If you prefer another language, it's also roughly equivalent to the C code
{ int x,sum; for (x=1, sum=0; x <= 10; sum += x++) printf ("%d ",x); return sum; }
Last modified:
Copyright 1998 by Stephen Bloch. This document is revised and corrected from time to time, so I would much prefer that you link to it rather than making your own local copy.Stephen Bloch / firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
See what the authors would look like if they were the walking dead!
This is the headquarters for "A User's Guide to the Universe," published in March 2010, and "The Universe in the Rearview Mirror" published in Summer, 2013. We've got fun cartoons, snarky commentary on cosmology and physics, and tutorials on everything from black holes to the Higgs Boson.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
it is MY Birthday Weekend as well!
Stamp deal #1
Stamp Deal #2
Stamp Deal #3
Stamp and Digi Deal #4
*ALL packages include a card backer / angel policy stamp, 5 yards of twine, four 4 x 6 pieces of double sided Heidi Grace paper and a SURPRISE RUBBER STAMP. You can also earn BADGES toward your next FREE stamp!!!*
You don't have to wait any longer!!!
Here is the hop order just in case you are having too much fun and get lost along the way :))
Sheryl: http://butterflykisscards.blogspot.com/
Celeste: http://www.touchedbyabutterfly.com/
Kenzie: http://kraftyhugzz.blogspot.com/
Macka: http://craftingwithdoodle.blogspot.com/
Rhonda: http://bumblcreate.blogspot.com/
Yolanda: http://www.justyolie.com/


text:
Unless you want to give one to the teller. That would be fun. Random acts of valentine kindness. Hmm.
These are so fun and super duper easy to make. Just print out the handy pre-made sheet of valentines onto kraft colored paper or cardstock. Cut each rectangle out and roll it around package of BreathSavers candy. You can secure the wrappers with tape or glue. I chose tape because it was super fast. Then just crimp in the ends like you would do with a roll of pennies.
Did you know that there are hardly any candies sold in rolls anymore? I was originally planning on using Lifesaver mints. But I couldn't find them packaged in rolls to save my life. haha. You can order them in rolls online, but I didn't want to wait. Luckily I found BreathSavers at my local grocer. And they worked perfectly!
Know what else? You can totally smell the mint through the packaging. And it smells divine!
You should make some. And pair them with flowers. That would be a good idea.
MOOchas sMoochas
Consider Yourself Kist!
You warm my heart-snowman spree
You're a Hoot!
Crazy About Crazy Straws!
I'm linking up with:


text:
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Israeli soldiers oblige Palestinian to drink wine after refusal to collaborate
Fatima Masri
- June 19, 2013
Main News
] [
Send by email:
Israeli soldiers checking the identity cards of Palestinian youths in Hebron. Photo (archive) by
Lazar Simeonov
Israeli Shin Bet officers in Beit Ummar forced 24-year-old Muhammad Khalil Abu Dayyeh to drink a bottle of wine after he refused to provide the names of Palestinians who participated in recent clashes in the Hebron-district town.
According to Mohammad Ayyad Awad, the spokesman of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Hebron, Abu Dayyeh was stopped by an Israeli patrol while going home Tuesday afternoon, 11 June 2013, and was led inside the watchtower for questioning. When he refused to provide the names of his fellow citizens who had allegedly thrown stones at the Israeli forces during the clashes, an officer identified as Abu Sedqi pointed the gun at his head and obliged him to drink a whole bottle of wine. Abu Dayyeh lost consciousness for a couple of hours and was released when he awakened. Locals confirm seeing him in town, visibly under the effect of alcohol. Forcing a Muslim to drink wine implies not only an act of physical but also of psychological violence, as the consumption of alcohol is forbidden in Islam.
The Jewish Press
contested the truthfulness of the news, commenting ironically: "a Palestinian Authority news agency has bested itself for Best Fiction of the Year Award by blaming the IDF [the Israeli Defence Forces] for forcing a local Muslim to drink wine at gunpoint." The on-line news website asserts that the IDF carried out an investigation and proved "that the described event did not occur." Abu Dayyeh was already drunk when he approached the army post, and was invited to leave using "minimal, non-aggressive measures".
According to the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem), Palestinians tend not to be believed when they file a complaint for ill treatment and are victims of a system that protects the IDF rather than the citizen. Police stations are often located inside settlements and the complaints are compiled in Hebrew. In several cases, the testimony has been twisted in the translation. The lack of trust in a system which relies on an Israeli evaluation of its own military forces often prevents complaints from being filed in the first place.
Episodes of ill treatment and deliberate harassment have been widely documented by Israeli NGOs like
Breaking The Silence
. Former Israeli soldiers are the first ones to give evidence of daily forms of abuse towards Palestinians, including
delays at checkpoints
denying detainees food and water
physical abuse.
Soldiers recount witnessing an escalation of violence in their own behaviour during their military service, due to mounting frustration for the job, boredom and consideration of Palestinians as "a herd of sheep or cows". Violent behaviour and aggression is "
a norm
" during the military service, a binding requirement to gain the respect of the other soldiers. Humanity is condemned and sanctioned by denying soldiers weekend leaves and straining them with the worst tasks in order to fuel their nerves and subsequent brutality.
Although abuses of Palestinian citizens are a widespread reality, the area of Hebron is notorious for episodes of violence due to its military rule.
The Hebron Protocol
officially divides the city in two sectors, H1 under Palestinian rule and H2 under Israeli rule. Despite this, the IDF took full control of H1 after the Second Intifada in 2000. 30 000 Palestinians inhabit the second area, together with around 500 orthodox and zealous Jewish settlers who consider Hebron as the Cave of the Patriarchs and more than 2 000 soldiers protecting them.
International and Israeli law allow security forces to use a degree of violence adequate to the situation. Human rights organisation B'Tselem has criticised the Israeli establishment for verbally condemning acts of violence against Palestinians but failing to legally pursue the offenders. The message is that Palestinian rights can be trampled without consequences, as abuse is a legitimate tool of occupation.
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Leslie was a 23rd century Starfleet officer. He served aboard the USS Enterprise between 2265 and 2268 under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, during the historic five-year mission. By 2266, he held the rank of lieutenant.
Starfleet service
Leslie was either a versatile crew member who was cross-trained to serve in several departments as needed or there were several individuals serving on the Enterprise who bear a striking resemblance to Mr. Leslie. Leslie appeared to be assigned primarily to the operations division and was usually posted to the engineering station on the bridge of the Enterprise, next to the turbolift doors. However, one or more individuals who may have been Leslie performed a multitude of tasks from a security officer, to a medical officer to a transporter operator.
If Leslie is one one person he is one of the few officers to have worn a blue, red, and gold Starfleet uniform. He also wore an earlier-style beige operations division uniform. He performed some duties in a red or blue jumpsuit. After stardate 2126.1, his uniform regularly showed the rank insignia of a lieutenant. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Changeling", "Assignment: Earth", "The Enemy Within", "The Squire of Gothos")
His service began on stardate 1312.4, with his first assignment occurring on stardate 1313.1. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before") During breaks from duty, he socialized with his shipmates in the recreation room of the Enterprise or in a bar. (TOS: "Charlie X", "The Trouble with Tribbles"; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
He risked facing a charge of mutiny on stardate 3417.3. After becoming infected by the Omicron spores, he abandoned his post and lined up outside the transporter room to join the colonists of Omicron Ceti III. He openly disobeyed Kirk's order when told to return to his station. He continued his service after the spores had lost their effect on him. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")
During a planetary survey of Argus X on stardate 3619.2, it appears that Leslie was killed by the dikironium cloud creature after it had drained all the red blood corpuscles from his body. Dr. McCoy examined him and declared him dead. But if Leslie was in fact killed someone who looked like him with the same name was back on duty by stardate 3620.7. It is uncertain whether he was resurrected or whether there is some other more mundane explanation. (TOS: "Obsession") His service aboard the Enterprise continued until his last assignment on stardate 5630.7. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")
Duty officer
Leslie was a duty officer on two occasions. He first sat in the command chair on stardate 2126.1, when Kirk and several other officers escaped safely from Trelane of the planet Gothos. (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos") The next time happened on stardate 3088.7, when the starship investigated the cause of massive spatial disturbances on an iron-silica planet and encountered Lazarus. (TOS: "The Alternative Factor")
Leslie performed many engineering tasks during his time aboard the Enterprise. He was at the engineering station during the tense standoff with the Fesarius on stardate 1512.2 and the battle with a Romulan Bird-of-Prey on stardate 1709.1. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver", "Balance of Terror") He was at the same post when the Enterprise crew first encountered Harcourt Fenton Mudd, learned the fate of Doctor Roger Korby, and visited Miri's homeworld. (TOS: "Mudd's Women", "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", "Miri")
He was on the bridge when Doctor Simon Van Gelder burst in with a phaser. (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind") He was unable to stop a cordrazine-crazed Doctor Leonard McCoy from escaping the bridge and transporting down to the time vortex planet. (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")
He passed out after Khan Noonien Singh cut off the life support system to the bridge and hijacked the Enterprise on stardate 3141.9. He was revived later and temporarily taken prisoner by Khan's followers. (TOS: "Space Seed") He also fainted on the bridge and was quickly treated by a medical team during the starship's journey through the space amoeba. (TOS: "The Immunity Syndrome")
He assisted Lieutenant Galloway in the transporter room and beamed in the Galileo survivors before the shuttlecraft incinerated around Taurus II. (TOS: "The Galileo Seven") He was attacked in the same room by an infected Commander Spock on stardate 3287.2 when the first officer applied the Vulcan nerve pinch on him in an attempt to beam down to the planet Deneva. (TOS: "Operation -- Annihilate!")
When the Enterprise accidentally hurled back in time to the year 1969, he repaired the engineering station for the voyage back to 2267. He assisted Spock and Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu in finding a weakness in Apollo's force field. He also aided Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott in weakening Vaal's hold on the starship. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday", "Who Mourns for Adonais?", "The Apple")
He was the bridge engineer when Commodore Stocker assumed command of the Enterprise on stardate 3479.4 and ordered the vessel to enter the Romulan Neutral Zone. (TOS: "The Deadly Years") He performed the same duty when Commodore Matt Decker took command on stardate 4202.9 and used the Enterprise to attack the "planet killer." (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine")
He was on the bridge after a group of Kelvans hijacked the ship and temporarily neutralized and reduced him into a small dehydrated porous cuboctahedron solid. (TOS: "By Any Other Name") He was stunned into unconscious when the Eymorg Kara appeared and removed Spock's brain. (TOS: "Spock's Brain")
While the Enterprise was under attack by a Klingon battle cruiser on stardate 4372.5, he gave up his seat at the engineering station to Elaan, the Dohlman of Elas. He continued his duties while standing until he was relieved by Scott. (TOS: "Elaan of Troyius")
Helm officer
Leslie was first assigned to the helm on stardate 1513.1, during the mission to planet M-113. He took over the helm when an infected Sulu abandoned his post on stardate 1704.2. He was later relieved of duty after he succumbed to the effects of the Psi 2000 virus. (TOS: "The Man Trap", "The Naked Time")
He was at the helm when the Enterprise discovered the rogue planet Gothos, transported the Karidian Company of Players to Benecia, orbited Pyris VII when Lieutenant DeSalle was in command, and visited the Shore Leave Planet. (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos", "The Conscience of the King", "Catspaw", "Shore Leave")
He performed tactical duties on stardate 3088.7. Under Kirk's orders, he fired the starship's phasers and destroyed Lazarus' spaceship. This sealed the negative magnetic corridor and saved the two universes from mutual destruction. (TOS: "The Alternative Factor")
Medical assistant
Leslie treated Spock twice as a medical assistant in sickbay. The first time happened when the first officer was attacked by the M-113 creature on stardate 1513.8. (TOS: "The Man Trap") The next one was on stardate 3372.7, when Spock underwent a medical examination by McCoy which revealed that he was suffering from the effects of pon farr. (TOS: "Amok Time")
Leslie was the navigator on stardate 3541.9, when the Enterprise encountered the intersteller space probe Nomad. He was one of two officers to carry Scott's body to sickbay after the space probe attacked the chief engineer on the bridge. He was not present to witness Scott's revival. (TOS: "The Changeling")
Science officer
Leslie was a science officer on the Alfa 177 geological survey team on stardate 1672.1. He suffered frostbite and recovered from the ordeal. (TOS: "The Enemy Within") He was posted to the science station on stardate 3211.7, as the Enterprise headed for Triskelion in search of Kirk, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura and Ensign Pavel Chekov. (TOS: "The Gamesters of Triskelion")
Security officer
Leslie's first assignment aboard the Enterprise happened on stardate 1313.1. He guarded the holding cell containing Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell at the Delta Vega Station. He was stunned into unconsciousness and later recovered after Mitchell unleashed his psionic powers on him to escape. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before") He was a member of the Beta III landing party on stardate 3156.2 and was temporarily absorbed into the Body of Landru. (TOS: "The Return of the Archons") He joined Lieutenant Commander Giotto's security team in the hunt for the Horta on stardate 3196.1. He was clubbed on the head three times by an angry mob of Janus VI miners and later healed of his injuries. (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark")
He was assigned to the security team aboard Deep Space Station K-7 on stardate 4523.3. While posted there, he helped end a bar brawl between the Klingons and the Enterprise crew. He also guarded the quadrotriticale storage compartment, apprehended Cyrano Jones for questioning, and assisted Kirk in uncovering the true identity of Arne Darvin. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles"; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
He was part of the security detail for the Arret landing party on stardate 4768.3. When Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Doctor Ann Mulhall beamed over to the planet, Sargon prevented him from joining along. (TOS: "Return to Tomorrow") Later that year, he held custody of Ronald Tracey after the captain of the USS Exeter was charged by Kirk for violating the Prime Directive on Omega IV. He was exposed to the Omega IV virus but did not suffer from its effects. (TOS: "The Omega Glory") He shadowed Tommy Starnes after the Enterprise rescued the orphans of the Starnes Exploration Party on stardate 5029.5. He was posted by the turbolift doors when the orphans hijacked the starship and was unable to comply with Kirk's orders after Starnes changed the captain's words into incomprehensible gibberish. (TOS: "And the Children Shall Lead")
His last assignment aboard the Enterprise occurred on stardate 5630.7. After Kirk discovered an assassination plot against Ambassador Kollos, Leslie teamed up with the captain, Spock, McCoy and Ensign Roger Lemli in response to the threat and ensured that no harm came to the Medusan ambassador. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")
Career recognition
Leslie was part of an elite group of Enterprise officers who dined at a banquet with Khan on stardate 3141.9. He was on the bridge when the Augment leader cut off the life support system. A weakened Kirk listed the bridge crew for commendations before passing out. Leslie was not included on the list. (TOS: "Space Seed")
On stardate 4729.4, Leslie was one of twenty officers selected by the M-5 computer to remain aboard the Enterprise for the war games exercise. He was one of two security guards to escort Doctor Richard Daystrom to sickbay when the renowned scientist suffered a nervous breakdown. (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer")
Identity Crisis
It is possible Leslie was very quick and had a unique ability to change clothes and duty stations. It is possible that Leslie was the one man in Starfleet who could work medical, navigation, engineering and security. On the other hand, it could also be presumed that there was more than one individual who looked like Leslie serving aboard the Enterprise. For example, during (TOS: "Assignment: Earth") the time traveling mission to 1968 Leslie is seen on the bridge at the Engineering station in a red officer's uniform, then a few minutes later he (or someone who looks just like him) is seen working in a red jump suit behind Mr. Scott in Engineering. However seconds later Leslie (or one of his dopplegangers) is in the transporter room where he is rendered unconscious by Gary Seven. If there was only one Leslie aboard the Enterprise, that man was possessed of the remarkable ability to man several unrelated duty stations and could quickly change uniforms and was also possessed of the ability to regrow red blood cells after he was dead. On the other hand, if there were several Leslie brothers (or Leslie clones) who served aboard the Enterprise, it seems odd that the Leslies never appear to be in the same room at the same time.
Memorable quotes
- In "The Conscience of the King", Leslie sits at the helm and awaits Kirk's orders to depart from Benecia.
- Kirk: "Whenever you're ready, Mister Leslie."
- Leslie: "Leaving orbit, sir."
- In "This Side of Paradise", an infected Leslie stands in a line headed for the transporter room.
- Kirk: "Get back to your stations."
- Leslie: "I'm sorry, sir. We're all transporting down to join the colonists."
- Kirk: "I said get back to your station."
- Leslie: "No, sir."
- Kirk: "This is mutiny, mister."
- Leslie: "Yes, sir. It is."
Related topics
- "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (TOS Season 1)
- "The Corbomite Maneuver"
- "Mudd's Women"
- "The Enemy Within"
- "The Man Trap"
- "The Naked Time"
- "Charlie X"
- "Balance of Terror"
- "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
- "Dagger of the Mind"
- "Miri"
- "The Conscience of the King"
- "The Galileo Seven"
- "The Menagerie, Part I"
- "The Menagerie, Part II"
- "Shore Leave"
- "The Squire of Gothos"
- "Arena"
- "The Alternative Factor"
- "Tomorrow is Yesterday"
- "The Return of the Archons"
- "Space Seed"
- "This Side of Paradise"
- "The Devil in the Dark"
- "Errand of Mercy"
- "The City on the Edge of Forever"
- "Operation -- Annihilate!"
- "Catspaw" (TOS Season 2)
- "Metamorphosis"
- "Friday's Child"
- "Who Mourns for Adonais?"
- "Wolf in the Fold"
- "Amok Time"
- "The Doomsday Machine"
- "The Changeling"
- "The Apple"
- "Mirror, Mirror"
- "The Deadly Years"
- "The Trouble with Tribbles"
- "Bread and Circuses"
- "Journey to Babel"
- "A Private Little War"
- "The Gamesters of Triskelion"
- "Obsession"
- "The Immunity Syndrome"
- "A Piece of the Action"
- "By Any Other Name"
- "Return to Tomorrow"
- "The Ultimate Computer"
- "The Omega Glory"
- "Assignment: Earth"
- "Spectre of the Gun" (TOS Season 3)
- "Elaan of Troyius"
- "The Enterprise Incident"
- "And the Children Shall Lead"
- "Spock's Brain"
- "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
- DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations"
Background information
Leslie was played by Eddie Paskey, a regular extra who served as a set stand-in throughout the course of the original Star Trek series. He was often seen in the background wearing a red Starfleet duty uniform while operating the engineering station on the Enterprise bridge or serving as a security officer.
Paskey had few speaking opportunities throughout the series. The first time he spoke occurred in "The Naked Time", when his character replied to Kirk's orders on the bridge. The other times he was heard speaking occurred in "The Conscience of the King", "The Alternative Factor", and "This Side of Paradise".
The only screen credit that he received was in "The Alternative Factor", when he was credited as "Lesley", and in "This Side of Paradise", when he was listed simply as "Crewman".
Leslie's last filmed appearance happened on the episode "Is There in Truth No Beauty?", when Paskey retired from the series. The actor suffered a back injury while filming a scene in "Operation -- Annihilate!", where Spock applied the Vulcan nerve pinch on Leslie. He also experienced severe headaches which were aggravated by the stage lighting on the set. By the beginning of the third season, Paskey felt that he could no longer handle the job's activities. [1]
Paskey's character did not have a set identity at the start of the series. The script for the pilot episode, "Where No Man Has Gone Before", referred to him as both a "crewman" and a "guard". He was once called "Connors" by McCoy in "Mudd's Women". By the end of "The Conscience of the King", Kirk addressed him as "Mister Leslie" three times, and continued calling him "Leslie" in subsequent episodes.
According to Paskey's personal website, his character was named after William Shatner's eldest daughter, Leslie Shatner.
Red shirt
Leslie has the distinction of being known as the first Star Trek recurring character to return from the dead. We know that he came back from the dead because it is impossible to kill a character who is capable of being at multiple duty stations at one time. This is evident in "Obsession", when he was killed by the cloud creature and listed by Kirk as one of the two unnamed and deceased officers in his log entry. Later in the same episode, he inexplicably appears twice – walking by Kirk's quarters, and again walking past sickbay.
According to Paskey, a scene in the script for "Obsession" that had all three victims of the landing party attacked by the creature would have them coming back to life later in sickbay due to a miracle potion. He mentioned that this scene was never filmed. [2] Director Ralph Senensky confirmed that he did not film it. [3]
Paskey continued to appear in subsequent episodes and his character was called "Leslie" by Kirk in "Assignment: Earth", "The Omega Glory", "The Enterprise Incident", and "And the Children Shall Lead".
Service rank
Leslie was never addressed by his Starfleet service rank. Kirk simply called him "Mister Leslie". Until he sat in the captain's chair in "The Squire of Gothos", Leslie's uniform did not display any rank insignia. With three exceptions after this point, his uniform regularly showed a full lieutenant stripe. When he was attacked by the cloud creature in "Obsession", the rank stripe was missing. It was also absent in "Spock's Brain" and "Is There in Truth No Beauty?", Paskey's last two filmed episodes on the series.
According to the comic book Who's Who in Star Trek, Leslie grew up on Earth near the Starfleet Impulse Engine Testing Grounds in El Paso, Texas, where he developed an interest in engineering. He went to Starfleet Academy in San Francisco and met Kirk in judo competitions. In the novel Present Tense, he developed a friendship with Sulu on the Enterprise soon after the events of "The Naked Time".
The novel Yesterday's Son mentions that he achieved the rank of lieutenant commander and served as the chief engineer aboard the USS Lexington near the end of Kirk's five-year mission. Shortly after the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, as depicted in the novel The Darkness Drops Again, he was transferred back to the Enterprise and served as the security chief under Captain Spock. In Who's Who in Star Trek, he returned to the USS Lexington around the time of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. The novel The Fire and the Rose mentions that he attended Kirk's memorial service at Starfleet Academy in 2293 during the events of Star Trek Generations.
There are inconsistencies with regards to Leslie's first name. According to Star Trek Short Stories and Who's Who in Star Trek, his first name is Frank. In the novels The Fire and the Rose and A Choice of Catastrophes, it is Ryan. The other novels state that it is Ed – an apparent tribute to Eddie Paskey, the actor who portrayed him on the original series.


text:
Written By:
Peter Ghali, iContact Product Manager of Integrations
So we have recently launched iContact for Salesforce and we have generated quite a bit of excitement. In addition to the obvious value in combining iContact's Email Marketing expertise with Salesforce, there are several key benefits of using iContact for Salesforce:
- It is very tightly integrated with Salesforce's campaign functionality which makes it easy to use and quite powerful
- You have the high deliverability of iContact working behind the scenes
- You can send follow-up emails via the Targeted Sends feature to campaign members based on their interactions with your email marketing
- And the list goes on and on….
But the title of this blog post is "The Real Value", so I'm sure you are asking yourself - If the list of features and benefits (and there are quite a bit!) isn't the real value what is? In addition to all the features and the fact that it is from iContact, what makes iContact for Salesforce so special?
The Real Value lies in 3 hidden gems:
- The Level of Integration – The most basic level of integration is exporting our list of contacts and leads into a CSV then importing them into your email marketing program. There are a lot of "integrations" out there where this is the recommended practice. Yuck! Some "integrations" provide a website within Salesforce where you can import your contacts into their system. While this is better than a CSV file, it's not much better. Where is the tracking? Where is the power of Salesforce? Why is there this weird tab with this non-native Salesforce interface? What about my Salesforce templates?
iContact for Salesforce is a true integration. Every page is a Salesforce page. No new interfaces, no weird transfer of contacts, leads, messages, etc. All your data resides in Salesforce so you can use Salesforce reports and dashboards. It's seamless. If you know how to use Salesforce, you know how to use iContact for Salesforce.
- The Scalability – Many folks simply "solve" this problem by ignoring it. It's easy to see why; it's a very tough problem to solve. The difficulty is that you have two separate systems (Salesforce and your email marketing provider) that have to work together. iContact took a different approach…We tackled it head on! We worked to make sure we can do as much as we can behind the scenes to ensure that all of the data transfer invisible to the user and could easily scale. While not as flashy as all of our other features, our ability to send a large number of emails matters!
- The Targeted Send – This is one feature that really takes email marketing to the next level. It allows you to "close the loop" between the interactions of your email recipients and subsequent emails. For example, suppose you send an email out to your other campaign members that contains two special offers. With the Targeted Send
sfeature you can follow up with folks who selected the first special offer with a thank you email, or better yet, you can reach out to folks who did not even open your email to send them a different offer. Of course, all of this is integrated right into Salesforce (See Real Value #1)
Wow…that was a lot for one blog post. Stay tuned for more about iContact for Salesforce.


text: Note: Do not use these drawings for construction. The product configurations depicted in these files represent the base unit and nominal flows. Connection sizes and locations in particular can vary depending on design flows. The information contained in these files is subject to change and should be reconfirmed at time of purchase.


text:
I was having a bit of "Nigellisma" attack on Tuesday ,if thats possible!I have been planning on baking an indulgent and rich chocolate cake.Also after reading Ren's post where prompted by Dom's Random Recipes challenge,Ren baked a Vegan Chocolate Cake using a recipe for Affinities Cake from the book titled Rococo,, I asked my neighbours 5 year daughter to flip through Nigella Lawson's book "Feast" - Food That Celebrates Life, lucky for me she stopped at Nigella's Old Fashioned Chocolate cake recipe ,made using only the food processor – so very perfect.
Besides no better way to bring in Valentines week than by baking a decadent chocolate cake with hints of coconut flavour and adding some coconut flavoured icing on the top.I love Nigellas original recipe which I have (dared to!) modify as I wanted to I had been thinking of ways to use the lovely samples sent to me by Sugar and Crumbs .
And what great timing I say with Valentines , Hubby's birthday and our wedding anniversary all lined up one after the other! Such a mega celebration calls for a grand cake – at least
I have modified the original recipe by using three medium sized regular eggs ,thick yogurt instead of sour cream, and have reduced the quantity of ingredients for the icing because I am not a big fan of slathering a very thick layer of sugary icing in between the layers nor am I very fond of a huge layer of icing on the top but I guess even after reducing the quantities of ingredients for the icing I still managed to get lots to smother the cake with.I have used Sugar and Crumbs flavoured cocoa powder in Chocolate Coconut and Sugar and Crumbs flavored natural icing sugar in coconut flavour, result – a perfectly balanced taste of coconut without being overpowering. So am calling my cake – "Chocolate Coconut Cake with Coconut flavoured Icing".For the remaining part the original recipe is perfect, basic,simple and therefore beautiful as it is foolproof and even a novice can get an excellent delicious, fluffy and intensely chocolatey cake – very satisfying indeed! Thank You Nigella!
Serves: 8 Preparation Time:25 mins In the Oven:25 mins
Ingredients - cake:
200 grams plain flour
200 grams caster sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
40 grams Sugar and Crumbs flavoured cocoa powder in Chocolate Coconut
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
175 grams soft unsalted butter
3 medium sized eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
150 ml thick set yogurt
Ingredients - icing :
50 grams unsalted butter
125 grams best quality dark chocolate (broken into small pieces)
225 grams icing sugar
100 ml sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sift the plain flour through a sieve into a large mixing bowl.
Add the caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and bicarbonate of soda.
Mix well with a spatula and transfer into the food processor.
Crack the eggs into the mixture, add the vanilla essence and the yogurt and mix roughly with a spatula before running the food processor to ensure that the loose flour doesn't fly all over the place. For the first 30 seconds I lightly covered the chute of the processor with my palm to prevent the flour from flying out in a mist . Now this is the reason I want a Kitchen Aid
After an initial spin , use the blunt edge of the knife to scoop out what stuck to the walls of the processor and mix well with the cake batter.
Don't worry if you think the batter is very thick ,another spin for about a minute should give you the required consistency to "pour" into the cake tins.
Grease two removable base 8 inch tins with butter and equally divide the cake batter into each tin.
Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C/350ºF
Bake for 25 minutes and then test the centre of the cake with a cake tester or thin skewer.
My cakes were done in 25 minutes but you may need up to 30 minutes depending on the type of oven. The cakes rose beautifully but the top had cracks. The icing was there to save the day and make the cake look pretty.
Remove cakes from baking tray and leave to cool down on a wire rack.
While the cakes are in the oven prepare the icing by mixing together all the ingredients of the icing ,the original recipe calls for adding golden syrup but I totally gave that a miss. Why? Because I had already borrowed some butter, some yogurt, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda from my very patient neighbour H – yes, yes she did get a large portion of this cake
Now to ice the cakes place the slightly domed part of one cake face down and slather icing on the flat part and place the other cake flat side down on the icing and then slather icing all over the cake.
I had some pretty pink and white sugar stars which I used to decorate my cake.
I have also been sent Sugar and Crumbs Coffee Flavoured icing sugar and a pack of salted caramel powder, maybe cupcakes need to be baked next ?:)
Happy Valentines Day – just realised its past midnight ! If like me you haven't yet figured out what you can do for that special someone in your life ,maybe its time to send them a cute little surprise they can see through the day on their phone or email , something I haven't done in a long long time, send an e-card!
Greeting Games is a digital greeting card combined with a casual game. It's a really fun way to send eCards to people, and the brilliant thing is it works on smartphones as it's not Flash-based.The site, which works seamlessly on all devices from tablets to PCs and smart phones, also has greeting games for numerous other occasions including birthdays and "just for fun."As the sender, you get to choose the occasion, choose the game and then tweak various options including adding a personal message to the recipient. After February 11, customers will be able to send up to two greeting games for free.Think of it if you will as a new way to communicate their love and affection with tailored casual games and in-game messages.
I have been meaning to link with the Tea Time Treats challenge hosted by Karen who blogs at Lavender and Lovage ,for sometime now, finally am getting around to doing just that.The theme for February is – you guessed it - CHOCOLATE! This cake is definitely gorgeous enough to be served as dessert and as a rather special tea time treat and with such a mega celebratory week for us I couldn't think of anything more apt This challenge is co-hosted on alternate months by my lovely blogger friend Jane who blogs at The Hedgecombers.
Thanks to Ren, I found about all these wonderful recipe challenges that I will be linking to for the first time.My recipe is being linked to Dom's Random Recipes event hosted by Dom who blogs at Belleau Kitchen , where for February the challenge is to select any chocolate-themed recipe book and to make a randomly selected recipe from that book.The idea of this recipe challenge is to make us home chefs step outside our comfort zones and make something that we would otherwise hestitate to and totally avoid. Humm ok I got off easy this time
Also linking to the We Should Cocoa event hosted by Choclette who blogs at Choc Log Blog where the challenge is to use an ingredient and that ingredient is chocolate - how apt for Valentines, and with all that gorgeous dark chocolate this cake certainly qualifies!This month, Dom has also joined forces with Choclette,result – two round ups at the end of the month instead of one and two great challenges linked to make one mega event- what fun!
Another first – entry into Nayna of Simply Food's Lets cook sweet treats for Valentine.Also for the first time. I'm joining in with Jibber Jabber's Love Cake first ever event where the theme for the month of love BAKING WITH PASSION and this is a cake baking challenge.
Above Joint events image courtesy Ren
Since I did bake this cake on Tuesday am linking it with Anyonita's Tasty Tuesday's Blogging Party – !
Disclaimer: With many thanks to Sugar and Crumbs for the generous amount of samples to test and review.I was not required to write a positive review and was not compensated monetarily for this post.Greeting Games has offered me a 2 month free subscription in exchange for supporting the launch of their e-card games.Like all my previous posts about events and reviews, ALL opinions expressed here are entirely my own.


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SUNNYVALE, California — Yahoo Inc. wants to prove it has regained its technological stride after years of meandering that have caused the Internet company to lose ground to its rivals.
The proof of Yahoo's renewed vigor will come this fall when the company plans to unveil facelifts to its free e-mail service and search results, a top executive told reporters Thursday.
Those upgrades will be major steps toward "bringing cool back to Yahoo," said Blake Irving, who was hired as the company's chief products officer in April.
Over the next three years, Yahoo will be quickly rolling out more innovations that will give people more reasons to stay on Yahoo's website for longer periods and reel in more revenue from advertisers clamoring to reach a more engaged audience.
Although Irving is relatively new to the company, his goals echo those of other Yahoo executives, including some from prior regimes that crumbled after failing to fulfill their promises. Former Yahoo CEO, Terry Semel, even played a Frank Sinatra song, "The Best Is Yet To Come," at a 2004 investment conference to underscore his resolve to recapture the buzz that helped make Yahoo the most successful Internet company during the 1990s.
Instead, Yahoo fell even further behind Google Inc. and now it's trying to reverse a recent shift that is driving more people and advertisers to Facebook's popular online hangout.
The troubles have battered Yahoo's stock, which has lost more than half its value since another CEO, co-founder Jerry Yang, turned down an opportunity to sell the entire company to Microsoft Corp. for $47.5 billion, or $33 per share, in May 2008.
Yahoo shares dipped 8 cents Thursday to close at $14.19.
Irving, a former Microsoft Corp. executive, believes Yahoo's strengths have been overlooked both by investors and the media. Among other things, Yahoo still has about 600 million worldwide users and a pool of engineers that Irving believes is among the brightest in the world.
"I expected to find some good, some bad and a lot of ugly here," Irving said. "There is a lot more good than I expected."
That's a theme Irving's boss, Carol Bartz, has been emphasizing since she was brought in as CEO 20 months ago to orchestrate a turnaround. Although analysts have praised Bartz for sharpening Yahoo's focus and shedding unprofitable services, Yahoo's stock price and financial performance have remained lackluster since her arrival. Bartz has repeatedly said it could take several years before Yahoo begins hitting on all cylinders again.
Rather than fight Facebook, Yahoo has been trying to piggyback on the social network by enabling its e-mail users to interact with their Facebook circle of friends from their inboxes. The company will build upon that effort this fall when e-mail users will be able to start sending the short messages known as tweets to their Twitter accounts. Yahoo's e-mail also is supposed to run twice as fast with the upcoming upgrade.
The company, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., declined to provide a precise timetable for its latest e-mail overhaul. It has been working on the e-mail revisions for more than a year already.
To lower its expenses, Yahoo is relying on Microsoft for most of the search results on its website.
But Yahoo is still trying to distinguish its search results by packaging some of its recommendations differently than Microsoft's Bing does.
The latest changes to Yahoo's search results will debut sometime this fall when the company will start bundling more key information in a capsule that will be highlighted above links from other sites. For instance, a search for Lady Gaga will contain different strips within the capsule that show pictures of her, popular songs and video clips.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Ilsan Lake Park has the largest artificial lake in Asia and was opened in 1996. It has gained popularity among many people as a place for leisure. It provides a beautiful lake-side scenery and many other facilities such as a botanical garden, medical herb island, nature learning center, bike-only road and even a boat club.
Korea is one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world with over five thousand years of history. According to the original creation myth, the world we live in today is the work of the Heavenly Prince Hwanung, whose father was the King of Heaven.The Heavenly Prince asked his father to give him some land to govern, so the Father sent him down to Mount Taebaek. With him the Prince brought the Minister of Clouds, the Earl of Rain and the Chancellor of Wind. They also brought three thousand helpers.Under the shade of a sandalwood tree the Prince founded a holy city called Sinsi, the City of God. He put his Ministers in charge of three hundred and sixty areas of human culture, teaching them to grow crops and to make laws concerning what is good and what is evil.A tiger and a bear living in a nearby cave saw this city and desperately wanted to become human. Every day they came to the sandalwood tree at the center of the city to pray fervently for becoming humans.Hwanung saw their devotion and gave them instructions to remain in the cave and fast for one month, eating nothing but garlic and mugwort. The tiger was too impatient to stand the long and boring days in the cave, so he gave up and left, but Bear maintained the fast. At the end of the month she was transformed into a beautiful woman who became the mother of the Korean people.Her first son was Don-gun, the First King of the Korean people. When Don-Gun passed on the throne to his own son, he became a Mountain God. It is interesting that mountain gods are still worshipped today in Korea.Text by Steve Smith.


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|Article Index
|UNRIC Library Newsletter - June 2014
|New titles
|All Pages
A/69/100: Annotated preliminary list of items to be included in the provisional agenda of the sixty-ninth regular session of the General Assembly
Dag Hammarskjöld Library Research Guide:
Human Rights, the Rule of Law & the post-2015 development agenda
For the High-Level Event of the General Assembly on "Contributions of Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the Post-2015 Development Agenda" that took place in New York on 9-10 June DHL has created this research guide.
UNOG Library & Archives Research Guides:
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The UNOG Library celebrated the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with the launch of a new research guide. Documents of the ministerial-level meetings - held every four years since 1964 - are available in full text.
Security Council Concept Note: "United Nations peacekeeping operations: new trends" (2 June 2014)
English, French & Spanish: http://undocs.org/S/2014/384
The Security Council held an open debate on "United Nations peacekeeping operations: new trends" on 11 June May 2014. The Security Council President for the month of June, the Russian Federation, has prepared this concept note.
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations – Fact Sheet: 30 April 2014 (DPI/1634/Rev.156, May 2014)
English: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/resources/statistics/factsheet.shtml
French: http://www.un.org/fr/peacekeeping/resources/statistics/factsheet.shtml
Spanish: http://www.un.org/es/peacekeeping/resources/statistics/factsheet.shtml
German: http://archive.unric.org/html/german/dpi1634dt.pdf
United Nations Political and Peacebuilding Missions – Fact Sheet: 30 April 2014 (DPI/2166/Rev.130, May 2014)
English: http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/documents/ppbm.pdf
French: http://www.un.org/fr/peacekeeping/documents/ppbmf.pdf
German: http://archive.unric.org/html/german/dpi2166dt.pdf
Counterfeit: Don't buy into organized crime (UNODC)
English: http://is.gd/eC8w3O
French: http://is.gd/aLCIvY
To coincide with World Anti-Counterfeiting Day (5 June 2014), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has launched a new consumer awareness brochure on the links between counterfeiting and organized crime. The brochure takes into account the unique position of consumers to encourage change through their choices and behaviour. By highlighting some of the key harms attached to counterfeit goods, the brochure urges this group to be aware of just how risky purchasing these items can be both to themselves and to the wider community.
Emerging issues for Small Island Developing States: Results of the UNEP Foresight Process
Climate change-induced sea-level rise in the world's 52 small island nations - estimated to be up to four times the global average - continues to be the most pressing threat to their environment and socio-economic development; with annual losses at the trillions of dollars due to increased vulnerability. An immediate shift in policies and investment towards renewable energy and green economic growth is required to avoid exacerbating these impacts, says a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) release on World Environment Day (5 June 2014).
How oceans- and seas-related measures contribute to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Local and regional experiences (DESA)
The e-publication is a contribution to a growing collection of studies on how to conserve and sustainably manage the resources of the oceans and seas to foster sustainable development. It contains a selection of successful local and regional examples of oceans- and seas-related measures from around the world. In particular, the publication seeks to illustrate how these measures were able to contribute to all three dimensions of sustainable development with benefits not only for the environment, but also for local communities and national economies.
Prevention and reduction of food and drink waste in businesses and households: Guidance for governments, local authorities, businesses and other organisations" (UNEP / FAO / WRAP - Think.Eat.Save Guidance)
A new tool, as part of SAVE FOOD Initiative and FAO-UNEP Sustainable Food Systems Programme, provides guidance to governments, local authorities, businesses and others on designing effective food waste prevention programmes.
Raising tax on tobacco: what you need to know (WHO)
English: http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2014/brochure/en/
French: http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2014/brochure/fr/
Spanish: http://www.who.int/campaigns/no-tobacco-day/2014/brochure/es/
Raising taxes on tobacco is the most effective policy to reduce tobacco use. It is also the most cost-effective. This short brochure gives examples of how countries including France, the Philippines and Turkey have successfully introduced strong tobacco tax policies. It also breaks down the myths spread by the tobacco industry about the impact of tobacco tax increases. Lastly, it lists what WHO recommends for further progress towards more widespread strong tobacco tax policies.
Squandering Humanity: Socioeconomic Monitoring Report on Syria; Combined third and fourth quarter report (July – December 2013) (UNRWA / UNDP / Syrian Centre for Policy Research)
Even as the death toll from Syria's three-year civil war continues to rise, the country's human development has also suffered immense collateral damage – the economy has been gutted, the healthcare system is in ruins, and education facilities are "teetering" – according to a new joint United Nations report out on 28 May 2014. According to the report, covering the last two quarters of last year, three out of four Syrians now live in poverty, with more than half the population – 54.3 per cent in 2013 – living in extreme poverty. As the conflict grinds on with no end in sight, some 20 per cent of the population now barely has the means to meet basic needs.
State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources (FAO)
Report in English: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3825e.pdf
Key findings – English: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3827e.pdf
Key findings – French: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3827f.pdf
Key findings – Spanish: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3827s.pdf
This first volume of "The State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources" constitutes a major step in building the information and knowledge base required for action towards better conservation and sustainable management of forest genetic resources at the national, regional and international levels.
State of the World's Midwifery: A Universal Pathway – A Woman's Right to Health
Report in English: http://unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/17601
Executive Summary & Fact Sheet in English, French & Spanish: http://unfpa.org/public/home/pid/16021
When trained and supported by a functional health system, midwives could provide 87 per cent of the essential care needed for women and newborns, and could potentially reduce maternal and newborn deaths by two thirds. This was among the findings of this report launched on 3 June 2014 by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners.
World of Work Report 2014: Developing with jobs (ILO)
Report in English, Summary in English, French & Spanish: http://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/world-of-work/2014/WCMS_243961/lang--en/index.htm
This year's edition focuses on developing countries and argues that quality jobs are a key driver for development. It draws on evidence from over 140 developing countries and finds that a common factor amongst those countries that have achieved higher per capita income and sustained growth was quality jobs.
World Social Protection Report 2014-15 (ILO)
Report in English: http://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/world-social-security-report/2014/WCMS_245201/lang--en/index.htm
Executive Summary in English, French, Spanish, German & Portuguese: http://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/world-social-security-report/2014/WCMS_245131/lang--en/index.htm
This new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) presents the latest social security trends and finds that most people are without adequate social protection at a time when it is most needed. According to the report, more than 70 per cent of the world population is not adequately covered by social protection and only 27 per cent of the global population enjoys access to comprehensive social security.
Concept Note on the Draft General Recommendation on Girls'/Women's Right to Education
During its next session in Geneva from 30 June to 18 July 2014, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will hold a half-day general discussion about elaborating a General Recommendation on girls' and women's right to education.
Eliminating forced, coercive and otherwise involuntary sterilization: An interagency statement (OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO)
Historically, involuntary sterilization, as a means of achieving genetic 'strength' and implementing population control policies, has involved serious human rights violations. The most marginalized groups have been the target of these practices, which persist today and in some places are codified in law. The people most often subjected to these abusive practices are women, especially those living in poverty, women living with HIV, women with disabilities, minority and indigenous women, and transgender and intersex persons. This statement, released by several UN agencies, describes the history of this practice, including its use as a method of mass birth control in the latter half of the 20th century in contravention of fundamental human rights principles of autonomy and dignity.
Guidance Note of the Secretary‐General: Reparations for Conflict‐Related Sexual Violence (OHCHR / UN WOMEN)
At the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict being held in London, UN Women launched on 11 June 2014 along with OHCHR this guidance note, a blueprint for promoting gender-sensitive approaches to the design and delivery of reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence.
Open wounds: Torture and ill-treatment in the Syrian Arab Republic (14 April 2014)
They called us prostitutes and spat on our faces…I was hanged against a wall for three days, and frequently beaten with an electric cable. I used to pass out from the pain," recounts WA, a 26-year-old Syrian woman. She was arrested along with several other women and for more than two weeks she faced torture, including sexual violence, while being held by security forces. After they released WA, she was forced to run away when her family rejected her after learning she had been raped. This story is drawn from one of the 38 interviews conducted by the UN Human Rights Office with individuals who were released from detention facilities throughout the Syrian Arab Republic and who have come forward to share their horrifying experiences. Their stories are included in this thematic paper, produced by the Office creating vivid images of the suffering of victims of torture and ill-treatment by the Syrian Government and by some opposition groups.
Oral Update of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (A/HRC/26/CRP.2, 16 June 2014 Advance Version
The majority of civilians in Syria continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict, the head of a United Nations-appointed human rights panel, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, said on 17 June 2014, noting that violence has escalated to an unprecedented level, humanitarian aid is arbitrarily denied and perpetrators of crimes have no fear of consequence.
In over 3,000 interviews, the Commission has collected "detailed narratives" indicating a massive number of war crimes and crimes against humanity, said Mr. Pinheiro. "Patterns of violations have been established. The culpability of hundreds of alleged perpetrators is being determined. The result is a solid foundation of evidence that contains a resolute commitment to accountability."
UNHCR Global Views blog
The UNHCR Global Views blog is a forum to discuss refugee policy and practice, featuring posts by Deputy High Commissioner Alex Aleinikoff and other experts. While news agencies actively cover the latest refugee news, in-depth policy discussions about refugee issues are largely absent from the public eye. Global Views aims to fill this void by providing a place for research and practice to come together. We see the blog as an opportunity for policy thinkers, academics, and interested readers to join us in an important and timely discussion.
Victims of Terrorism Support Portal
English: http://www.un.org/victimsofterrorism/en
French: http://www.un.org/victimsofterrorism/fr
Spanish: http://www.un.org/victimsofterrorism/es
The Support Portal is dedicated to and highlights the importance of those individuals across the globe that have been attacked, injured, traumatized or lost their lives during terrorist attacks.
War's Human Cost: UNHCR Global Trends 2013
The annual report shows that the number of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people worldwide has, for the first time in the post-World War II era, exceeded 50 million people. 51.2 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2013, fully 6 million more than the 45.2 million reported in 2012.
Audiovisual Library of International Law – latest additions
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485


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Hear 'Gangs of Wasseypur' songs on mobile first
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, whose "Gangs Of Wasseypur" had a grand world premiere at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival, is set to have its music launch in a unique way - on mobile.
Prior to the sound-track's release on the traditional CD, the album can first be heard on mobile phones thanks to a collaboration with telecom company Bharti Airtel and content provider Hungama Mobile.
The film's music, composed by Sneha Khanwalkar, will be exclusively available for Airtel mobile customers for 10 days, starting May 26, via Hello Tunes and Airtel Radio.
"The music premiere of 'Gangs of Wasseypur' first on the mobile platform speaks volumes of the changing consumption pattern among customers today," N. Rajaram, CMO, consumer business, Bharti Airtel, said in a statement.
"Be it music, movies, gaming, social networking or emailing - the discerning Indian customer is increasingly relying on the mobile phone for accessing content," he added.
"Gangs Of Wasseypur", a two-part series features an ensemble cast including Jaideep Ahlawat, Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Richa Chadda in key roles.
The movie is slated to release June 22.


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There are 2,500 people living in The Centro Financiero Confinanzas, an unfinished skyscraper in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Despite being essentially squatters, they still have somewhere to play video games.
The building, despite being incomplete, isn't just a home to those 2,500 souls. It's a city unto itself, complete with bars, dentists, stores and even recreational facilities.
Oh, and an arcade. Humberto Hidalgo, 23, an immigrant from Colombia, has four TV sets in his family's living room, a PlayStation hooked up to each one. He charges the "local" kids 50 cents for half an hour on the consoles. They may not be Street Fighter IV cabinets, but for a bunch of squatters, that's a pretty sweet setup.
"There's opportunity in this tower", he says. His wife, Julieth Tilano, helps him run a store on the building's seventh floor.
It's an incredible story, and there's plenty more of it over on the New York Times.
A 45-Story Walkup Beckons the Desperate [New York Times, via io9]


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By Ed Coambs, KF9 Philippines, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation
Have you ever had a dream. Sure you have. We all have.
I have created a short video in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and the women of Negros, Philippines to remind us all that it is important to dream and dream big.
Spending the last three months in the Philippines has been an amazing experience. I have traveled to meet many Kiva entrepreneurs all over the island of Negros, and no matter what I find a way to ask about their dreams. There is no doubt this has been the most inspirational part of my time here. I hope that you will take a few minutes to remember Martin Luther King Jr. and the women of Negros. They are both great dreamers.' />


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Lights, Camera ... Cycle Start
A new show dramatically portrays real-life manufacturing and CNC machining. The pilot episode is now playing.
#edgefactor #workforcedevelopment
It is not just that manufacturing has an image problem. The situation is worse than that. Manufacturing has two image problems.
One is the false impression. Manufacturing is seen as loud, dirty, dreary, antiquated—you are no doubt familiar with this bias. In other words, manufacturing is not work to aspire to, and not a type of business to encourage. These notions are, of course, inaccurate. A manufacturing facility today—even just a moderately advanced one—is technologically sophisticated, sleekly organized and dynamically fluid in the pace at which it responds to changing customer demands.
Featured Content
However, the other image problem is arguably even more harmful. Rather than a false impression, many people have a non-impression. The false view of manufacturing at least still leaves people seeing manufacturing as a practice that has its place. Increasingly, though, people have no real sense, and no impression at all—accurate or otherwise—of what manufacturing is and what it does. People do not understand how our society relies on manufacturing, and thus they do not have any concern to give it. The products that we touch every day, the objects and devices that are fundamental to our modern lives, are all regarded as though they began their existence on the store shelves. The empty picture leaves no place to appreciate the work, skill, livelihoods and innovation that goes into making those products real.
Therefore, restoring a healthy level of interest and support for manufacturing requires more than just communicating how far computerized modern manufacturing has come. That is important, but not enough.
Today, the case for manufacturing also has to re-acquaint people—in a very basic way—with just what manufacturing means. What's more, making this introduction is even more vital than refuting the false impression, because obliviousness is worse than inattention.
However, there is also an opportunity. That ignorance about manufacturing actually creates the chance for a fresh start. The chance exists now—far more than it did even 10 years ago—to instill a new, better, more accurate and more engaging impression of manufacturing. Manufacturing is exciting. We forget that, but it's true. The excitement comes from successfully pushing an idea beyond the edge of imagination and into reality. For plenty of people today, there is no preconception that stands in the way of their discovering, for perhaps the first time, the thrill of crossing that edge.
Enter The Edge Factor—a new show focused on manufacturing.
The new show, in particular, focuses on manufacturing as almost everyone reading this magazine understands it. Certain shows on cable TV in recent years have shown products being made, but this show will tell the stories of the people and processes involved in making discrete production parts through CNC machining. In fact, the initial episode focuses on how just such a part proved vital to the show itself. Future episodes will highlight machined parts in other applications—maybe including yours (see below). In Chicago earlier this year, attendees to IMTS got to see a 4-1/2-minute preview of the new show. Now, the full pilot episode can be viewed in its entirety at edgefactor.com.
For Lack of a Rig
Executive producer Jeremy Bout and director Francois Driessen are the show's creators. Their concept for The Edge Factor is this: Each episode begins with an exciting machine, device or product—say, a racing engine or a performance aircraft—and works backward from that product to explain how a critical machined component was manufactured to specification. Stories feature not only footage of the CNC machining involved, but also technical discussions of the machining challenges. Providing these technical discussions is where Modern Machine Shop makes its onscreen contribution to the show.
Though the creators never intended it, their pursuit of the pilot episode—which would be filmed in 3D—actually captured the very essence of why manufacturing is important. The plan was to focus on a critical steering-related component for jet boats. The launch of the episode would come from 3D footage of these boats shooting across the rapids of the Niagara River (near where Mr. Bout grew up). At least, that was the plan.
What Mr. Driessen soon discovered is that the hardware for using 3D camera equipment in extreme environments did not exist. Filming in 3D often involves mounting two cameras side-by-side. The rigs for this mounting tend to be heavy, and are restricted to particular cameras. By contrast, this show would need a rig that was light enough to maneuver not only, say, within a helicopter over the rapids—but more significantly within a machine shop or a machine tool. The show also needed a rig adjustable enough to accommodate the side-by-side positioning of various types of cameras. Mr. Driessen could imagine the rig he wanted, and he could even sketch a picture of it, but he could go no farther than that. The rig would have to be made. The Edge Factor itself needed machining services.
Thus, the show confronted a principle in miniature that is also true at the scale of an entire nation. Namely: Without manufacturing, real innovation is impossible.
Living the Edge
Mr. Bout knew where to get the rig made. He turned to contract manufacturer Myles Tool of Sanborn, New York. Mr. Bout had once worked for this shop. In fact, his appreciation for machining dates from his experience there, before he began a career making films.
As the show's team began its conversation with Myles about the rig, Mr. Bout says it became clear what was happening. "We were living an Edge Factor episode," he says. The seemingly small story of the rig part offered a promising subject for an episode, and in fact offered a better first story than the boat part did. Following the rig would let the show portray, all in one episode, a variety of the kinds of talents, people and decisions that figure into manufacturing challenges.
For example, Joe Adams, who supervises Myles Tool's cutter grind area, took up the role of creating a solid model of the rig from Mr. Driessen's paper sketch. This involved tension, because the film director changed details of the design even as production plans moved ahead. Machine shop supervisor Jim Thiel then reworked the shop's production schedule in order to get this part made within the show's tight filming timetable—all without disrupting the expectations of the shop's many other customers. Finally, at the machine tool, Myles Tool's Mark Farina programmed tool paths, ran the job, and—as the episode describes—also suggested and implemented a final design change to the rig that both improved its function and reduced its cost.
In short, this first episode allowed the show to do far more than introduce the audience to CNC machining. By telling the story of the rig, the episode also provided a way to introduce viewers to an important type of manufacturing business: the CNC machining job shop.
Audience Input
The show is still in the earliest phase of its development, with much of its potential still unknown. One obvious question, for example, is whether the show will be seen on broadcast television. The early answer is: Maybe. A popular cable channel has shown interest. However, the key questions surrounding broadcast include not only whether TV is sufficiently interested, but also whether TV would sufficiently preserve the aim of the show. The mechanism of delivery might ultimately be broadcast, or it might be "narrowcast" via the website, podcast and a variety of other venues.
The show's team is currently pursuing a plan to develop six further episodes. Funding is coming from manufacturing technology companies interested in seeing the show's positive message about manufacturing carried forward. The pilot episode, for example, is sponsored by Doosan, Sandvik Coromant and SolidCAM. Mr. Bout says audience members can help the show in at least two meaningful ways.
One is by signing in at show's website, he says. Demonstrating a large online following will help the show with advancing into other venues. (You can also follow news about the show at Facebook.com/EdgeFactor.)
The other way to help the show is by pitching a story for a future episode. The Edge Factor website includes an area for inputting basic information about manufacturing success stories, including one you may have seen in your own shop or plant. In particular, the show is interested in manufacturing stories related to exciting end products. Production facilities that are open to the intrusion of a film crew are still being sought, says Mr. Bout, and they are not necessarily easy to find. You might have never imagined it before, but your own coworkers—not to mention your machine tools—could end up as film stars.